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Immigration Support for a Domestic Violence Survivor
Maria Gutierrez (not her real name) and her three young children experienced several years of abuse, harassment, and death threats by her husband. Even after Maria separated from him and succeeded in obtaining a restraining order against him, he continued to terrorize her and their children. In late 2007, she heard about the U visa program, a special provision of immigration law for victims of serious crimes, and came to Centro Legal for help. With the assistance of Allison Davenport, our immigration attorney, Maria and her two non-citizen children were granted visas in 2008. She can now live and work lawfully in the U.S. She and her children are receiving mental health counseling and other support services to help them rebuild their lives.
Supporting Workers' Rights
Hugo Toscano (not his real name) came to Centro Legal after he was laid off from his job. Jesse Newmark, Centro Legal's Skadden Fellow, discovered that Hugo had been denied adequate meal and rest periods for about 13 years. He helped Hugo file a wage claim and eventually settled the case for $6,000. But more important than the money to the client was the broader impact. Soon after the settlement, Hugo learned from one of his former co-workers that the company immediately implemented a new policy, ensuring that each of the hundreds of current employees now receive the legally required meal and rest periods each day. So, as a result of a direct legal service for one individual, we helped to change the policy of a mid-size company and enforced the legal rights of hundreds of employees.
Success stories like these are only possible with the support of our funders, donors, and volunteers. Click here to make a contribution!
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